Investigation and comparison of the anti-tumor activities of lactoferrin, α-lactalbumin, and β-lactoglobulin in A549, HT29, HepG2, and MDA231-LM2 tumor models

H Y Li  ¹ , P Li  ¹ , H G Yang  ¹ , Y Z Wang  ¹ , G X Huang  ¹ , J Q Wang  ¹ , N Zheng  ²

• ¹ State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, P. R. China; Key Laboratory of Quality & Safety Control for Milk and Dairy Products of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, P. R. China; Laboratory of Quality and Safety Risk Assessment for Dairy Products of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Animal Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, P. R. China.
• ² State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, P. R. China; Key Laboratory of Quality & Safety Control for Milk and Dairy Products of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, P. R. China; Laboratory of Quality and Safety Risk Assessment for Dairy Products of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Animal Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, P. R. China. Electronic address: zhengnan_1980@126.com.

Abstract

To investigate the anti-tumor activities of lactoferrin, α-lactalbumin, and β-lactoglobulin, 4 types of human tumor cells (lung tumor cell A549, intestinal epithelial tumor cell HT29, hepatocellular cell HepG2, and breast cancer cell MDA231-LM2) were exposed to 3 proteins, respectively. The effects on cell proliferation, migration, and apoptosis were detected in vitro, and nude mice bearing tumors were administered the 3 proteins in vivo. Results showed that the 3 proteins (20 g/L) inhibited viability and migration, as well as induced apoptosis, in 4 tumor cells to different degrees (compared with the control). In vivo, tumor weights in the HT29 group (0.84 ± 0.22 g vs. control 2.05 ± 0.49 g) and MDA231-LM2 group (1.11 ± 0.25 g vs. control 2.49 ± 0.57 g) were significantly reduced by lactoferrin; tumor weights in the A549 group (1.07 ± 0.19 g vs. control 3.11 ± 0.73 g) and HepG2 group (2.32 ± 0.46 g vs. control 3.50 ± 0.74 g) were significantly reduced by α-lactalbumin. Moreover, the roles of lactoferrin, α-lactalbumin, and β-lactoglobulin in regulating apoptotic proteins were validated. In summary, lactoferrin, α-lactalbumin, and β-lactoglobulin were proven to inhibit growth and development of A549, HT29, HepG2, and MDA231-LM2 tumors to different degrees via induction of cell apoptosis.

Keywords: anti-tumor activity; lactoferrin; α-lactalbumin; β-lactoglobulin.